Searching for details on traversing the Heather-Maple Pass Trail in the North Cascades? We`ve completed this hike multiple times, and it remains our favorite in the state (and potentially the entire Pacific Northwest). We`re here to share our experiences on the route to assist you in planning an incredible day exploring the wilderness of the North Cascades.
We have found this hike to be highly enjoyable, completing it multiple times in recent years since the experience never disappoints.
Between the marmot squeaks following you as you make the climb up to the pass, the views out over the Cascades and beyond from the top, and the wildflowers or larches present in the early summer or fall, this hike has everything we love about hiking in the mountain ranges of the Pacific Northwest.
As a matter of fact, if you’ve read our guide to the best hikes located within Washington State, you will know that we firmly believe that in terms of the effort required, this hike stands out as the top hike in the state.
Contained in this guide, you’ll obtain a thorough trail plan that will respond to any queries (we believe, at any rate) you may have regarding hiking the Heather-Maple Pass Loop.
We will begin by discussing some logistical details, such as the parking conditions at the trailhead, the recommended direction to hike, and what parking pass is required, before providing a trail description based on our multiple outings on this trail.
By completion, the goal is for you to have every piece of information necessary to embark safely and enjoy an amazing day on this exceptionally stunning trail in the North Cascades.
Sound good to you? Let’s get into it.
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Table of Contents
Heather-Maple Pass: Trail Details
- Length: 7.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
- Trail Type: Loop
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Pass Required? Northwest Forest Pass OR America the Beautiful Pass
- Dog-Friendly? Technically, a portion of it is dog-friendly, but the best section of the hike is on National Park land which prohibits dogs. So it`s best to leave any furry friends at home for this trail.
- Beginning Point of Trail: Rainy Pass Trailhead
How Difficult is the Heather-Maple Pass Loop?
This is one of the most sought-after hikes in the state, particularly for that short 10-14 day stretch in the fall when the oranges and reds of the undergrowth seemingly ignite the hillsides, and the golden larches stand out from the proverbial page.
However, this is by no means an easy hike, covering 7.6 miles with considerable elevation changes along the route.
We`d consider the Heather-Maple Pass Loop in the “challenging” classification, but it`s definitely on the more manageable side of difficult in these parts, where hikes often span 8-10 miles with 3,000 feet of elevation gain.
You need to prepare for any type of weather like rain, snow, ice on the trail, and heat. Bring sun protection, snacks, and a lot of water in the summer, and dress in layers.
We prefer a moisture-wicking long sleeve shirt (not cotton!), a lightweight fleece, and a puffy jacket (along with a rain jacket in our pack, just in case).
For an easier hike that also features larches and a great alpine lake, head a few miles up the road to the Blue Lake Trail, another one of our favorite hikes in North Cascades National Park (and a hike that’s near the top of our list of effortless walks in Washington – great bang for your buck!).
Getting to the Rainy Pass Trailhead
This hike begins from the Rainy Pass Trailhead / Picnic Area directly off Highway 20 (also called the North Cascades Highway).
Either the routes are closed entirely, which is generally the circumstance with the perilous Westside Road (and is the justification for Gobbler’s Knob not being on this list despite being an awesome hike – the closure adds eight miles to the hike!), or they’re borderline impassable by passenger vehicles.
Plan to spend 40 minutes on the road if you’re coming from Colonial Creek Campground, and just under an hour if you’re coming from Newhalem Campground.
Parking at the Rainy Pass Trailhead
The parking area serving this hiking trail has spaces for recreational vehicles and trailers. However, because of the trail`s popularity, the lot often reaches full capacity by 10:00 AM or earlier on busy summer weekends.
Between the crowds in the parking area and on the trail, our biggest suggestion for this hike is to wake up early and arrive at the trailhead no later than 8am, which is what we’ve done both times.
In both instances, we did not see a single person on the trail until we reached Maple Pass and met people coming up from the opposite direction.
If the automobile lot is complete, you`re theoretically allowed to park along the motorway, but it will notably prolong your hike. Be certain to pay attention to any and all “no parking” signs.
There are toilets at the trailhead.
Despite the fact that it’s listed as a hike inside North Cascades National Park, the trailhead is technically just outside the eastern boundary of the park, which means the pass you need is a Northwest Forest Pass.
You can either carry $5 cash and pay using a day pass envelope at the trailhead, or purchase an annual pass ahead of time ($30).
Be aware that the day pass envelopes are sometimes unavailable at the trailhead, which is why we usually suggest purchasing in advance (you can also buy day passes in advance, if you don’t want an annual pass).
An America the Beautiful Pass (aka a National Parks Pass) also qualifies you here, since it covers all national recreation land, including national forests.
The Best Time to Hike the Heather-Maple Pass Loop
This section may possibly hold the most importance of all sections for a couple reasons.
We receive A TON of questions about when to plan a trip to Washington State, and we’ve come to learn that our idea of summer (as residents of the Pacific Northwest, plus Matt’s experience growing up here) is VERY different from the ideas of people who live elsewhere.
Even friends who have relocated to the Northwest more recently still fall into the erroneous presumption of being able to go to Rainier or the North Cascades in June and undertake hiking trails at higher elevations devoid of snow or ice.
The best time to hike the Heather-Maple Pass Loop (and other high elevation hikes in the North Cascades) is going to be late-July through mid-October.
That’s when you’re most likely to find roads open (North Cascades Highway / Highway 20 closes from November to April each year – you can check the status of the road here), trails free of snow, and long, warm days that are perfect for hiking.
Yes, you counted correctly. That’s only three months! This far north you’ll find a painfully brief three month season for hiking the higher elevation trails.
However, each successive month presents a somewhat altered appearance and atmosphere to the trail, which we feel is an intriguing facet of this area.
Late July through August provides the best chances of nice weather, and the earlier portion of that timeframe brings various wildflowers to the slopes along this trail.
However, it’s also the busiest time of year, with the park full of families with children making the most of their school’s summer break.
September is our favorite time to hike in the Pacific Northwest, and it brings slightly cooler temperatures and shorter days, but far fewer people out and about on the trails.
October also commonly sees many taking on this trail due to one special happening: the golden larches that illuminate the hillsides in a spectacular show for around one week in October. Yet determining precisely which week remains unpredictable until it transpires! Generally though, it falls somewhere within the first fortnight of October.
The weather in October will be cooler – you might even see snow and freezing temperatures – but provided you have the proper gear, the larches are worth braving the more unpredictable weather.
By the end of October, the three months of peak hiking season comes to a close, and snow returns to the trail, putting it into hibernation until the following summer when the cycle repeats itself.
Should You Hike Clockwise or Counterclockwise?
One thing we wanted to address before getting into the trail guide itself is which direction to hike this loop trail.”
There isn`t a single “wrong” path, per se, but there certainly are benefits and drawbacks to each choice.
For what it`s worth, we`ve done this hike in the counterclockwise direction every time, and that is the way we`d suggest going (and will continue going in the future).
By doing the hike in a counterclockwise direction, you’re going to get a more gradual climb up to the ridgeline, which you’ll follow until reaching the highest point on the hike at Maple Pass. From there, it’s a steep descent straight down a set of switchbacks back to the bottom of the hike.
By traveling clockwise along the route, your hike initiates with a relentless climb up the switchbacks, gaining the entire 2,200 feet of elevation over about 2.3 miles. Then, once you’ve reached Maple Pass at the top, it’s a prolonged, step-by-step descent back down to the trailhead.
That’s a BRUTALLY difficult climb, but if you have bad knees, it’s probably better to go up that section than down.
Ultimately, it comes down to your individual preferences, and there’s no wrong answer.
For those opting to take in the sights through a more leisurely ascent, with the finest views of Maple Pass ahead as the descent is embarked on, following the route counterclockwise is advised.
If you have painful knees or prefer to complete most of the climbing early before relaxing downhill while enjoying unfolding views, go clockwise.
The Heather-Maple Pass Trail: A Complete Trail Guide
In this section, we will go through the hike from beginning to end so you know what to anticipate when starting the trail.
For each section, we’ll give you the (rough) distance and elevation gained in that portion of the hike, along with a relatively brief description of the terrain, calling out anything that we think might be useful to know (e.g. there’s a steep section with some scrambling, there’s a toilet, etc).
It`s worthwhile noting that we’ll be covering this hike in a counterclockwise path, allowing a more gradual ascent and a shorter, steeper descent at the end. This is how we`ve completed it various times and how most people would be recommended to experience it.
From the Trailhead to Lake Ann
Distance: 1.8 miles // Elevation Gain: 600 feet
As you start from the trailhead, you will embark on a climb that persists throughout the hike to Maple Pass, the trail`s highest point, at roughly a stable rate.
The majority of this initial section has forest covering, and there aren`t truly any perspectives to be had yet. It`s a good spot to focus your attention and push towards Lake Ann.
There are a couple sections where the trail emerges from the forest, looking out over a meadow or boulder field where marmots, if fortunate enough to see them, may be heard calling the landscape home.
At 1.2 miles into the hike, you`ll reach the junction leading to Lake Ann. We recommend taking the detour here, as it is mostly flat terrain, extends the outing by just 1.2 miles roundtrip, and offers views of a beautifully situated alpine lake.
Plus, you get to see the trail you’re about to tackle from below, which will give you a sense of scale and appreciation when you hit the top.
From the junction, it’s around 0.6 miles to the lake.
Lake Ann to Heather Pass
Distance: 1.7 miles // Elevation Gain: 650 feet
This section begins by returning along the Maple Pass Trail from Lake Ann`s shore using the same connecting trail taken previously, a distance of 0.6 miles.
Then, you’ll veer left and continue the gradual ascent to Heather Pass, the initial of two passes you’ll have the privilege of standing atop on this trail.
It’s only about a mile up to Heather Pass, and the trail alternates between a steady, rocky grade and sets of switchbacks. Around halfway up to the pass is where the views start to open up, and the good news is that they really only get better from there.
The Final Push to Maple Pass
Distance: 1.4 miles // Elevation Gain: 850 feet
Once you’ve made it to Heather Pass, the trail turns left and continues along the ridgeline, where you’ll have excellent views out over Lake Ann and the Cascades in the distance.
If you’re there in the early summer (late July and early August) and you’re fortunate, this section will include a wealth of wildflowers growing on the hillside above Lake Ann.
If rock climbing isn`t your thing, sweeping panoramic views will have to suffice instead.
This middle section is our favorite part of the hike. Not only do you get some nice views back to the east over Lake Ann, but there are some good views looking west as you approach Maple Pass.
Just before arriving at Maple Pass, signage indicates entry into North Cascades National Park, explaining the prohibition on canine companions for this hike (dogs are permitted in the national forest but not the national park).
The Steep Descent Back to the Trailhead
Distance: 2.7 miles // Elevation Loss: 2,100 feet
Now that all the climbing is behind them, and after taking a few minutes at Maple Pass to admire the vista, have a snack, and hydrate, it`s time for an equally difficult descent back to the parking area.
The initial part of the descent is actually rather pleasant. The trail starts to drop in elevation with a set of wide, sweeping switchbacks that have you viewing eastward at the jagged mountain peaks of the Cascade Range. There are some truly stunning views along this stretch.
However, all of that comes to an end when you reach the treeline, and the switchbacks become significantly tighter and steeper, and the views essentially disappear (except for the occasional obstructed view of Rainy Lake down to your right).
Luckily for you, it’s a reasonably short descent, but your legs will be burning by the time you reach the bottom. Hiking poles will serve as a helpful companion for this segment.
It is worth noting that the final 0.6 miles of this section follows a paved trail back to the parking lot (the Rainy Lake trail).
Which means the vast bulk of the descent occurs over 2 miles, and loses 1,000 feet of elevation per mile (which is A LOT).
